Welcome to Mercury! This is the first rock from the sun, and it is also the smallest planet in our entire solar system. However, don't for one second think this planet gets bullied around because approximately 70% of it is an iron core. This gives a whole new meaning to the term, "hard core!" Mercury is a bit mysterious because only about 45% of its surface has been mapped by us humans. However, as you can see in the photo above, it looks a great deal like our moon. It is dense, magnetic and has some serious weather "mood" swings. The temperatures on Mercury's surface range from -180 degrees to over 400 degrees Celsius. Those temperatures can make for one VERY cold winter and summers that are just unbearable even with air conditioning. I don't advice living on Mercury, either. Should we keep looking?
Distance from the sun: About 58,000,0000 km (about 36,000,000 miles) Distance from Earth: About 77,000,000 km (about 48,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth about 1,925 times. Planetary Make-up: Mostly iron with a wee bit of water ice thrown in (by colliding space debris) for good measure. Moons: Mercury was left out of the moon lottery and none to boast of. How the planet got its name: It was named after the Roman god of commerce and thievery. Maybe it should have stole a moon or two from Saturn, who has way too many.
Welcome to Mercury! This is the first rock from the sun, and it is also the smallest planet in our entire solar system. However, don't for one second think this planet gets bullied around because approximately 70% of it is an iron core. This gives a whole new meaning to the term, "hard core!" Mercury is a bit mysterious because only about 45% of its surface has been mapped by us humans. However, as you can see in the photo above, it looks a great deal like our moon. It is dense, magnetic and has some serious weather "mood" swings. The temperatures on Mercury's surface range from -180 degrees to over 400 degrees Celsius. Those temperatures can make for one VERY cold winter and summers that are just unbearable even with air conditioning. I don't advice living on Mercury, either. Should we keep looking?
Distance from the sun: About 58,000,0000 km (about 36,000,000 miles)
Distance from Earth: About 77,000,000 km (about 48,000,000 miles). That is like traveling around the Earth about 1,925 times.
Planetary Make-up: Mostly iron with a wee bit of water ice thrown in (by colliding space debris) for good measure.
Moons: Mercury was left out of the moon lottery and none to boast of.
How the planet got its name: It was named after the Roman god of commerce and thievery. Maybe it should have stole a moon or two from Saturn, who has way too many.